In these days, our industry navigates through rough waters although nonwoven, and in particular wet wipes, market keeps growing at a sustained pace. Raw materials price rise, war in Ukraine, freight charges are mining the outlook. Manufacturers cannot transfer in-full to consumers price increases from raw materials, energy, freight, and this shrinks their margins. Moreover, war in Ukraine, COVID19 disruptions still present in far east, and raise of inflation worldwide gives uncertainty to future growth. In result investments are more difficult to be justified, or worse, are postponed waiting for stable outlook.

IMA Teknoweb copes with these world issues developing products which require less resources, using better and sustainable raw materials, able to reduce product costs. We, in IMA, are committed to develop new products to make our clients more competitive and successful, even in these cloudy times. This is the reason behind our latest updates and announcements.

During this quarter we showcased our improved rewinder/perforator for wipes in rolls, modified roto-orbital cutting saw for dry products, high speed plastic lid applicator among other innovations you will see in the very next months.

Good reading.

Guido Conio

Wet wipes converting machines use 2 types of cutting unit. A simple, low maintenance, less expensive pinch or scissor cutter and a more mechanically complex roto-orbital disc saw. The first type is used when the ribbon to be cut is thin, usually less than 25 mm thickness. This is typical for lines shorter than 25 lanes and substrates thinner than 50 gsm. The second type is used in all the other cases, machines longer than 25 lanes, when the ribbon is thick and scissor cutter cannot guarantee a neat cut. In this case, a roto-orbital saw can cut easily and neatly 50 or also 80 lanes ribbon.

IMA Teknoweb recently improved its roto-orbital saw adding features which makes this unit faster (up to 600 cuts/min), more flexible (wider range of cutting length) and more reliable (less maintenance required). It consists of 2 rotating disc blades which match ribbon speed during cutting action and therefore guarantee a straight, neat, and squared cut.

It is based on patented system that includes a counter blade made of staves, placed in a straight belt. The counter-blade belt ensures high precision and reliability more than standard anvil drum.

Roto-orbital saw is currently proposed for all our long flat-fold lines (longer than 25 lanes) and is available for retrofitting existing machines.

Recently we applied it to dry wipes converting lines successfully. Main difference compared to wet wipes solutions is a lubrication device, which is necessary to limit temperature raise.